Chester Taco Bell to open in August

Stakes mark different areas of the proposed site of the Taco Bell in the Camptown section of Chester. Taco Bell's corporate media relations team told the Herald Tribune in an email that the restaurant is expected to open in August.Pete Spitler/Herald Tribune

By Staff Report

updated: 4/21/2017 4:42 PM

In a one-sentence response on Thursday, Taco Bell's corporate public relations team confirmed the popular restaurant franchise will be opening a location in Chester.

"The restaurant is undergoing construction and set to open in August," the email said.

During the Chester City Council's April 3 meeting, while responding to a city resident's comment about the proposed restaurant, Page said Taco Bell's chosen location is at the corner of Dixie Drive and State Street in the Camptown section of the city.

He noted that First Bank, which owns the lot the Taco Bell is being built on, would share its entrances with the new restaurant.

"I do know that the Ameren engineer was out there yesterday," said Chester Mayor Tom Page, who noted he had recently received the plans for the building.

Page confirmed the restaurant is solely a Taco Bell and not a Taco Bell/KFC combo as it is in Murphysboro and other locations. He noted the plans include 20 parking spaces with a drive-thru.

"It's going to happen," Page said. "I'll be interested to seem them turn the first shovel, but I'm pretty sure it's going to happen.

"Which just tickles me to death."

A Taco Bell has been rumored to be built in Chester since the former Pizza Hut in the Chester Center was demolished in 2015. Page said he had not heard when a groundbreaking ceremony would be held.